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The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has urged the shipping community to take necessary action to comply with the International Convention on Civic Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001 .

In a circular to members of the maritime industry, the MPA said that it is preparing the necessary legislation to be brought into force on the same date the Convention comes into force internationally on the 21st November 2008.

The legislation requires ships of 1,000 gross tons (gt) and above to carry on board the Bunker Convention Certificate, which is intended to attest that insurance or other financial security to cover liability for pollution damage is in place.

The MPA said that applicable Singapore-registered vessels would be issued with the Bunker Convention Certificate by the Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS) and that each certificate would be charged at a fee of $60, which includes a 7 percent Goods and Services Tax (GST).

To prevent backlog, the MPA said that it encouraged owners and managers of Singapore-registered vessels to approach their P&I Clubs early for the issuance of the Blue Card as insurance to cover liability for pollution damage as required under the Bunker Convention.

Oil Tankers that are defined in the Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage 1992 (CLC 92) would already be complying with the CLC 92 and need not be covered under the Bunker Convention, said the MPA.

It pointed out, however, that if an oil tanker is greater than 1,000 gt and operating in 'clean condition', i.e. where there are no residues of oil in its cargo tanks, the tanker would then be required to carry a Bunker Convention Certificate.

The MPA also warned owners that as the Bunker Convention covers “any seagoing vessel and seaborne craft, of any type whatsoever”, port states that are party to the Bunker Convention may also require any tanker greater than 1,000 gt to carry a Bunker Convention Certificate, even when the tanker is not operating in 'clean condition'.

The MPA advised owners and operators to verify with the relevant authorities in the foreign port which the ship would be calling at on their position regarding this issue.

Applications for Bunker Convention Certificates for applicable Singapore-registered vessels can be made to the office of Singapore Registry of Ships at (SRS) at the MPA by completing the Form (Annex A) , and attaching a copy of the Blue Card for submission to the SRS via email to marine@mpa.gov.sg.

Alternatively, the application can be mailed to the SRS at the following address: 460 Alexandra Road, #21-00, PSA Building, Singapore 119963 (Attn: Ship Registry).

The MPA says that the electronic submission of Bunker Convention Certificate applications is currently under development and is scheduled be available in November 2008.